Catch for portfolios and the like.



J. S. ISIDOR.

CATCH FOR PORTFOLIOS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 8, 1913.

1,080,832, Patented Dec. 9, 1913.

he. INVENTOR WITNESSES: I 2 g I] use 51AM- ;z zz yflw 2 V R31 ATTORNEYS COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CO.,WASHINOTON, D. :4

JOSEPH S. ISIDOR, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY,

ASSIGNOR TO B. "NEUMANN HARDWARE 00., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

CATCH FOE PORTFOLIOS AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

EatentedDec. 9, 1913.

Application filed September 8, 1813. Serial No. 788,729.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, Josnrn S. Isrnon, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Catches for Portfolios and the like; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference-being had to the accompanying drawings, and to characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The present invention relates, generally, to improvements in catches; and, the said invention has reference, more particularly, to a novel construction of looking or holding catch which is especially adapted for use with portfolios, music-rolls, pocket-books, and similar articles.

The invention has for its principal object to provide a looking or holding catch of the general character hereinafter more particularly set forth, in which the various parts have been reduced to a minimum in number, simplicity of construction and of operation, and in which the locking or holding bar, which is rotatably arranged with relation to the main body of the device, is constructec to cooperate in holding engagement with engaging means with which the separable member of the device is provided, whereby the locking or holding bar positively engages said separable member of the d vice to retain the same in secured relation to the main body of the device.

Other objects of the present invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will be clearly understood from the following detailed description of the same.

With the various objects of the invention in view, the said invention consists, primarily, in the novel looking or holding catch hereinafter set forth; and, the invention consists, furthermore, in the novel arrangements and combinations of the several parts comprising the catch, all of which will be more fully described in the following specification, and then finally embodied in the clauses of the claim which are appended. to and which form an essential part of this specification.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front or face view of a looking or holding catch made according to and embodying the principles of the present invention, showing the separable member of the catch connected or engaged with the main body of the catch by the operation of the locking or holding bar as arranged to prevent the separation of the separable parts of a portfolio or similar article; Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same parts represented in Fig. l, but showing the looking or holding bar in its disengaged relation with said separable member of the catch, to permit the separation of the separable parts of a portfolio or similar article. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of the two connected members of the catch, taken on line 33 in said Fig. l; and Fig. 4.- is a cross section of the same taken on line 4-4: in said Fig. 1 looking upward; both said Figs. 3 and a being drawn on an enlarged scale. Fig. 5 is a face view of a slightly modified construction of locking or holding catch made according to and embodying the principles of the present invention, the members of the same being shown in their locked or engaged positions; Fig. 6 is a similar view of the same with the members thereof shown in their separated or unlocked positions; and Fig. 7 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same taken on line T-7 of said Fig. 5, said view being drawn on an enlarged scale.

Similar characters of reference are employed in all of the abovedescribed views to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now to the said drawings, the reference character 1 indicates the complete holding or locking catch illustrating one embodiment of the principles of the present invention, the same comprising two separable members or elements, one a lower or main body or member which is adapted to be secured to the body of a port-folio or similar article, and the other an upper or separable member which is adapted to be secured to the flap of said portfolio or similar article. The said lower or main body or member, which may be of any suitable conformation or design, is preferably constructed in the form of a chambered shell or casing comprising a face-plate 2 which is surrounded by a downwardly extending wall or flange 8, so as to provide a space or chamher 4 beneath said face-plate 2. Extending in opposite directions from the said shell or casing thus formed are suitably formed wings or ears 5, the same having suitably disposed holes or perforations 6 for the reception of rivets, or the like, by means of which the said shell or casing may be secured in its proper relation to the body of the portfolio or other article of manufacture with which the catch is to be employed. Extending across the upper part of said shell or casing is a straight wall 7, said wall providing a stop against which the upper or separable member of the catch, to be presently described, is brought when registering the latter with said lower or main body or member of the catch to assemble said parts in their closed or engaged relation. tending upwardly from said wall 7 is a platelike receiving member 8 upon which the upper or separable member of the catch is adapted to be received, said receiving member 8 being provided with a pair of raised ribs, tongues or other desirable holding means 9, adapted to engage the sides of said upper or separable member to prevent any lateral movement of the same when properly associated with said lower or main body or member of the catch.

The upper or separable member of the catch is made in the form of a plate 10 which is provided with suitably disposed holes or perforations 11 for the reception of rivet-s, or other fastening means, for attaching the plate to the flap of a portfolio or similar article. At its lower or straight edge portion 12, the said plate 10 is formed with a rearwardly extending part 13 and an upwardly projecting portion 14, the said plate 10 and said upwardly projecting portion 14- pro-viding two parts which are adapted to embrace the flap of the portfolio or the like when the plate 10 is secured therewith. The said face-plate 2 is provided with a suitably disposed hole or perforation 15 providing a bearing in which is mounted a pivot-pin 16. Suitably journaled upon the outer end of the pivot-pin 16, so as to rotate either with or upon the same, is a holding or looking bar 1'? providing a pair of oppositely extending arms. Formed in said face-plate 2 is an arc-shaped raised rib or holding member 18, the same being disposed concentrically to said pivot-pin 16, and in like manner there is formed in the plate 10 of said upper or separable member of the catch an arc-shaped raised rib or holding member 19 which, when said upper or separable member is properly registered with said lower or main body or member of the catch, registers with said arc-shaped raised rib or holding member 18, thus completing a raised rib concentric to said pivotpin 16, and disposed jointly upon the survided at their free ends with recessed hold ing or engaging portions 20 which receive or fit over and embrace said raised ribs 18 and 19 so as to ride thereon. When the upper and lower members of the catch are properly associated together in their closed or locking positions, the said holding or locking bar 17 is rotated so that one of its arms extends over said plate 10 of said up per member with its recessed holding or engaging portion 20 in holding or engaged relation with the raised rib 19, as shown in Figs. 1 and 8 of the drawings, thus locking said upper member to said lower member of the catch, and preventing the former from being either pulled outwardly and away from or raised upwardly and away from said lower member, and thus holding or locking in its closed position the flap of the portfolio, or the like, with the body thereof. The said raised ribs or tongues 9 of the platelike receiving member 8 of the lower member of the catch by engaging the side edges of the upwardly projecting portion 14 of said upper member of the catch prevents any lateral displacement of the latter from its locked or held relation to said lower member of the catch.

Of course, it will be clearly evident that many other devices or means may be provided in place of the raised ribs or tongues 9 to accomplish the same purpose, hence, I do not limit myself exclusively to the use of such elements, but I intend the scope of my invention to include any means which will prevent the lateral movement of the upper member when associated with the lower member of the catch. It will also be understood, that if so desired, the raised rib 18 of the face-plate 2 may be omitted from the device, and only the arc-shaped raised rib 19, or its equivalent, of the plate 10 of the upper member of the catch retained, and still the device will accomplish the purposes for which the present invention is intended, hence, I do not wish to limit myself entirely to the use of the raised rib 18 in the face-plate 2, although I prefer the same to be used as a matter of appearance, and as a guide for the arms of said holding or looking bar 17 Referring now to Figs. 5, 6 and 7 of the drawings, I have illustrated therein a slightly modified construction of holding or looking catch, still embodying, however,

the principles of the present invention.

The construction of this modified arrangement is the same in all essential respects as that of the construction above described, and the corresponding parts of the detail construction thereof are indicated by the same reference letters as used in the ill-ustrations of the said above described construction. The changes made, however, consist in eliminating the raised ribs or tongues 9 from the plate-like receiving member 8 of the catch, and in substituting therefor a suitably disposed forwardly extending stud 21, which is secured to said plate-1ike receiving member 8 by riveting, or in any other suitable manner, and in providing said upwardly projecting portion 14 of said upper member of the catch with a suitably disposed receiving opening or hole 22 which registers over said stud 21, and receives the same when said upper and lower members of the catch are assembled in their looking or engaged positions.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that my present invention provides a very simple, strong and efiective construction of looking or holding catch for portfolios and similar articles, and which is of very neat and attractive appearance, easily and quickly manipulated, and which eliminates the use of any springs or complicated movable parts in its locking mechanism.

I am aware that some changes may be made in the general arrangements and combinations of the various devices and parts, as well as in the details of the construction of the same, without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the foregoing specification and as defined in the clauses of the claim which are appended thereto. Hence, I do not limit my present invention to the exact arrangements and combinations of the said devices and parts as described in the said specification, nor do I confine myself to the exact details of the construction of the said parts as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

I claim 1. In a device of the kind described, a lower and an upper member, each provided with means for attaching the same to a portfolio or the like, a plate-like receiving member extending upwardly from the body of said lower member upon which said upper member is registered, means for retaining said upper member against lateral movement when registered upon said platelike receiving member comprising projections connected with said plate-like receiving member adapted to engage the side edges of said upper member, a rotatable locking bar mounted on said lower member,

a holding means connected with said upper member, and means connected with the free ends of said rotatable locking bar for engaging said holding means of said upper member to retain said upper member in locked engagement with said lower member.

2. In a device of the kind described, a lower and an upper member, each provided with means for attaching the same to a portfolio or the like, a plate-like receiving member extending upwardly from the body of said lower member upon which said upper member is registered, means for retaining said upper member against lateral movement when registered upon said plate-like receiving member, comprising projections connected with said plate-like receiving member adapted to engage the side edges of said upper member, a movable locking means connected with said lower member, and a holding means connected with said upper member adapted to be engaged by said movable locking means to retain said upper member in locked engagement with said lower member.

3. In a device of the kind described, a lower and an upper member, each provided with means for attaching the same to a portfolio or the like, a plate-like receiving member extending upwardly from the body of said lower member upon which said upper member is registered, a rotatable locking bar mounted on said lower member, an arcshaped rib formed on said upper member and adapted to be positioned concentrically to the pivotal connection of said locking bar when said upper member is registered with said lower member, recessed portions connected with the free ends of said locking bar adapted to receive and engage said arcshaped rib when said locking bar is turned to extend over said upper member, and means for retaining said upper member against lateral movement when registered upon said plate-like receiving member of said lower member comprising projections connected with said plate-like receiving member adapted to engage the side edges of said upper member.

In testimony, that I claim the invention set forth above I have hereunto set my hand this 2nd day of September, 1918.

JOSEPH S. ISIDOR.

Witnesses:

GEORGE D. RICHARDS, FREDK. H. W. FRAENTZEL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

